Rotational attitude indicator



y 1968 H. P. GARDNER ET AL 3,383,772

ROTATIONAL ATTITUDE INDICATOR Filed Aug. 25, 1966 5 Sheets-Shaa't 1ATTORNEYS May 21, 1968 P, GARDNER ET AL I 3,383,772

ROTATIONAL ATTITUDE INDICATOR Filed Aug. 25, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2M/VE/VTOPfi HOW/1P0 6490/1/51? 5490M G. POBE/QZ? ATTORNEY? May 21, 1968H. P. GARDNER ET AL 3,383,772

ROTATIONAL ATTITUDE INDICATOR Filed Aug. 25, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTOP/VE V5 United States Patent 3,383,772 ROTATIONAL ATTITUDE INDICATORHoward P. Gardner and Baron G. Roberts, Atlanta, Ga.,

assignors to Accurmatic Corporation, Atlanta, Ga., a corporation ofGeorgia Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 403,156,

Oct. 12, 1964. This application Aug. 25, 1966, Ser.

4 Claims. (Cl. 33-207) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for measuringthe amount of rotation of ones forearm comprising a transparent elongatevertically arced housing, a horizontally arced bubble indicator withinthe housing and means for securing the housing to the wrist of a user. Amethod of performing a sport comprising recognizing the rotation of oneswrist before and after participation by means of observing a wristmounted rotational attitude indicator.

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser.No. 403,156, filed Oct. 12, 1964, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a rotational attitude indicator, andmore particularly to a wrist-mounted rotational attitude indicator foruse by bowlers, golfers, archers, and the like.

In many sports, the rotational attitude of one or both hands is crucialto an enjoyable and efiicient participation.

Most amateurs play only enough to realize this fact but never succeed inestablishing proper rotation and recognizing it. Professionalparticipators acquire a knowledge of proper rotation through years ofpractice and are capable of establishing that proper rotationinstinctively each time they participate in their sport. The amateur,however, does not have the time nor the ability to spend yearspracticing a sport. Consequently, each amateur is plagued byinconsistency, and inaccurateness.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide arotational attitude indicator to be used primarily by amateur orunskilled practitioners of a sport and which will provide a readyreference as to what relative degree of rotation of the hand or hands isbeing employed with each participation in the sport.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indicator which can beWorn on the wrist of one hand by the person participating in a sportwithout interfering with the use of that hand in the participation ofthe sport.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotational attitudeindicator which may be used to set the hands in the proper rotationalattitude before each participation in a sport.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotational attitudeindicator which is simple and economical in construction, inexpensive incost, and easy to use.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the rotationalattitude indicator comprises a relatively small transparent housinghaving an arcuate spirit level therein and means for securing thehousing to ones wrist at the base of the thumb. The indicator allows theuser to determine the most suitable rotational attitude of his wrist atthe instant of executing movements required for a sport. By recognizingan approprite rotation of the wrist, the user may obtain a suitablyconsistent and accurate participation in the sport.

3,383,772 Patented May 21, 1968 "ice Other objects, features andadvantages of the invention will become apparent upon the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, inwhich: 7

FIG. 1 is a top planar view of the rotational attitude indicator of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational exploded view of the rotational attitudeindicator of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational section on linef33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational exploded view of an alternative embodimentof the rotational attitude indicator of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rotational attitude indicator of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the rotational attitudeindicator of this invention in proper use.

Upon particular reference to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawing, it willbe noted that the rotational attitude indicator 10 includes atransparent, vertically arced, rectangular housing 12 of triangularcross-section. Formed within housing 12 is a rectangular depression 14intermediate of the sides and ends of housing 12 and opening throughoutits length along the undersurface of housing 12. A longitudinallya-rcuate channel '16 is also formed in housing :12 above depression 14and coextensive in length with depression 14. The channel 16 opensthroughout its length along the upper surface of the depression 14 andarcs within one horizontal plane. Closing and hermetically sea-ling thechannel is a sealing plate 18 of rectangular shape suflicient to tightlyfit within depression 14. Plate 18 is placed against the upper surfaceof depression 14 and adhesively sealed thereto. A liquid 20 of lowviscosity is injected into channel 16 just before it is closed andsealed by plate 218. This liquid 20 fills the channel 16 except for agaseous bubble 22 left therein to freely move within channel 16. Thus,there is created a longitudinally arced spirit level within the housingwhich is responsive to and indicative of rotational movement of thehousing when it is positioned so that the channel '16 arcs verticallywithin a plane other than the horizontal.

'Formed within the top surface of housing 12 is a peripheral scale 24made up of a series of parallel calibrations normal to the longitudinalaxis of housing 12.. Scale 24.is disposed in juxtaposition with channel16 providing thereby indicia for recognizing and noting the amount ofrotation of the housing by means of observing the location of bubble 22relative to scale 24.

Housing 12 is formed into triangular cross-sectional shape so that theoblique observation of bubble 22 is facilitated. Further, the series ofparallel calibrations of scale 24 extend down the sides of housing 12far enough to provide indicia when observing the housing 12 from anoblique angle. Housing 12 may be constructed of any suitable transparentmaterial such as thermoplastic. Liquid 20 consists of any suitableliquid commonly used in level indicating devices and should be colored.These liquids usually are of low-viscosity so that movement of the levelindicating device is followed by immediate movement of the bubble.

A base 26 is formed to coextend with and complement housing 12 which isplaced thereon. In this embodiment, housing 12 is afiixed to base 26 bymeans of a suitable adhesive; however, our invention further encompassesa housing 12 which is removably secured to base 26 by temporary oradjustable means so that the housing may be removed from the base andused by another or adjusted on the base to suit the needs of the user.The means of attachment, in this alternative embodiment, areconventional and therefore are not shown in these drawings. The ends ofbase 26 are formed so as to create passageways 28 and 30 when housing 12is placed upon base 26. In this embodiment, passageways 28 and 30 extendfrom each end of base 26 to a pair of openings intermediate of the endsof base 26 and spaced from each other. An alternative arrangement wouldbe a single passageway extending through base 26 from one end to theother.

Upon reference to FIG. 4, it will be noted that base 26 is shown with arectangular protrusion 32 designed to tightly and hermetically sealchannel 16 in the same fashion as plate 18. FIG. 4 is thus one speciesof my invention, FIG. 2 and 3 of which are another; all are equallywithin the scope of my invention.

A fastenable strap 34 provided with a buckle at one end and apertures atthe other is positioned within passageways 28 and 30 so that strap 34may be used to secure the indicator 10 to a users wrist. Other suitablemeans for securing the indicator 10 to ones wrist may be employed; onesuch means would be an annular elastic band of a circumferencesufiicient to tightly secure indicator 10 on ones wrist.

FIG. 6 depicts the indicator 10 properly positioned on a users wrist.This position should be on the wrist at the base of the thumb with thecentral calibration substantially aligned with the mid-line betweenthumb and forefinger. If the indicator is to be considered with theforearm and hand above a horizontal plane, the channel 16 should are sothat its ends are closest to the elbow; if the forearm and hand are tobe below the horizontal plane at the moment of consideration of theindicator 10, the channel 16 should are so that its ends are closest tothe hand. The indicator 10 will not function properly with the hand andforearm at or near the horizontal position because, in this position,the slightest rotation of the wrist will create a high-point at one endof channel 16. Therefore, the bubble 22 would have only three positionsavailable within chann l 16, i.e. midway or at either end of channel 16.With channel 16 arcing vertically so that its ends are its lowestportions, a rotation of the wrist will cause the establishment of aplurality of high-points along channel 16 as the channel is, in effect,rotated by means of rotation of the housing 12. Bubble 22 may proceed toeach of these high-points as an indicator of a certain amount ofrotation of the wrist. FIG. 6 shows the indicator in position forconsideration when the hand and forearm are above a horizontal plane.Thus, with proper positioning of the indicator 10, rotation of the wristwill cause a corresponding and immediate movement of bubble 22 relativeto the movement of the wrist and indicative thereof. Therefore, one may.rotate the wrist a set distance, as shown by the indicator, lock thewrist, and perform the movements required for the sport. Thereafter, theuser may assess the results and effect the required changes in rotationof the wrist, while knowing .that an accurate adjustment of the wristmay be accomplished.

FIG. 6 shows the indicator 10 in use while grasping a bowling ball. Inthis sport, one should grasp the ball, rotate the wrist to the properdegree of rotation as evidenced by the bubble 22 relative to the scale24, lock the wrist, and bowl the ball over a pre-selected marker on thelane. The results should be ascertained and corrections made in therotation of the wrist.

It should be understood that the indicator 10 may be placed on otherareas of the wrist as long as it is left in that position throughout theparticipation in the sport and is readily observable in that position.Of course, no matter where the indicator is placed, the above mentionedrequirements as to direction of the arc of the channel 16 must be alwaysfollowed.

It will be apparent that the particular embodiment of the inventionshown and described herein is of an illustrative character and thatvarious modifications in construction and arrangement of parts may bemade within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. Wrist-mounted rotational attitude indicator for measuring the amountof rotation of a users forearm and hand during participation in a sportcomprising:

(a) a transparent elongate housing having a concave undersurface and atop surface, said housing being arcuate throughout its length;

(b) an elongate depression formed in said undersurface, said depressionhaving an upper surface;

(c) an arcuate channel formed in said upper surface, said channel arcingwithin a plane normal to the arc of said housing and constituting asegment of a circle;

(d) a liquid filling said channel except for a gaseous bubble lefttherein to be freely movable in said channel;

(e) a sealing plate disposed within said depression and closing saidchannel;

(f) an elongate arcuate base upon which said housing is placed; and

(g) means for mounting said base upon a users wrist; said top surface ofsaid housing having thereon a scale disposed in juxtaposition with saidchannel.

2. Wrist-mounted rotational attitude indicator comprising:

(a) a transparent elongate housing having a concave undersurface and asubstantially triangularly shaped top surface, said housing beingarcuate throughout its length;

(b) a substantially rectangularly shaped depression formed in saidundersurface, said depression having an upper surface;

(c) an arcuate channel formed in said upper surface, said channel arcingwithin a plane normal to the arc of said housing and constituting asegment of a circle;

(d) a liquid filling said channel except for a gaseous bubble lefttherein to be freely movable in said channel;

(e) a sealing plate disposed within said depression and closing saidchannel;

(if) an elongate arcuate base upon which said housing is placed; and

(g) means for mounting said base upon a users wrist; said top surface ofsaid housing having thereon a scale disposed in juxtaposition with saidchannel.

3. Wrist-mounted rotational attitude indicator comprising:

(a) a transparent elongate housing having a concave undersurface and asubstantially triagularly shaped top surface, said housing being arcuatethroughout its length;

(b) a substantially rectangularly shaped depression formed in saidundersurface, said depression having an upper surface;

(0) an arcuate channel formed in said upper surface, said channel arcingwithin a plane normal to the arc of said housing and constituting asegment of a circle;

(d) a liquid filling said channel except for a gaseous bubble lefttherein to be freely movable in said channel;

(e) an elongate arcuate base upon which said housing is placed, saidbase having a raised protrusion constructed and arranged 'to close saidchannel when said housing is placed upon said base; and

(f) means for mounting said base upon a users wrist; said top surface ofsaid housing having thereon a scale disposed in justaposition with saidchannel.

4. Wrist-mounted rotational attitude indicator for measuring the amountof rotation of a users forearm and hand during participation in a sportcomprising:

(a) a transparent elongate housing having a concave undersurface and atop surface, said housing being arcuate throughout its length;

(b) an elongate depression formed in said undersurface, said depressionhaving an upper surface;

(c) an arcuate channel formed in said upper surface, said channel arcingwithin a plane normal to the arc of said housing and constituting asegment of a circle',

(d) a liquid filling said channel except for a gaseous bubble lefttherein to be fireely movable in said channel;

(e) an elongate arcuate base upon which said housing is placed, saidbase having a raised protrusion constructed and arranged to close saidchannel when staid housing is placed upon said base; and

(f) means for mounting said base upon a users wrist; said top surface ofsaid housing having thereon a scale disposed in juxtaposition with saidchannel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sauer 33-207 Morrison 33--212 XStamm 33-207 Veit 33207 Wullschleger 33211 Salopck 33-207 Schenker 33207SAMUEL S. MATTHEWS, Primary Examiner.

